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Edward Snowden's asylum options narrow Edward Snowden's asylum options narrow
(35 minutes later)
A growing number of countries have rejected the asylum requests of fugitive intelligence leaker Edward Snowden, as he attempts to avoid extradition to the US.A growing number of countries have rejected the asylum requests of fugitive intelligence leaker Edward Snowden, as he attempts to avoid extradition to the US.
Seven European states including Spain said asylum applicants had to be on their soil. Several states including Spain said applicants had to be on their soil.
India and Brazil have also said no.
Mr Snowden, who is at Moscow airport, sent requests to 21 countries in total, Wikileaks said, but he later withdrew a request to Russia.Mr Snowden, who is at Moscow airport, sent requests to 21 countries in total, Wikileaks said, but he later withdrew a request to Russia.
A Kremlin spokesman said his decision came after Russian President Vladimir Putin set conditions for him staying. Bolivia's President Morales said he would consider a request.
He told Russian television Bolivia had not yet received an application for asylum, but added: "Bolivia is ready to accept people who disclose espionage if one can call it this way."
Mr Morales and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro are in Moscow for a meeting of gas-exporting countries.
President Maduro said he had not formally received a asylum request, but also expressed support for Mr Snowden saying he "deserves the world's protection" from the United States.
"Why are they persecuting him? What has he done? Did he launch a missile and kill someone? Did he rig a bomb and kill someone? No. He is preventing war," he told Reuters news agency.
The former intelligence systems analyst is wanted by the US on charges of leaking secrets.The former intelligence systems analyst is wanted by the US on charges of leaking secrets.
He accuses US President Barack Obama of putting pressure on the countries to which he has applied for asylum.He accuses US President Barack Obama of putting pressure on the countries to which he has applied for asylum.
Meanwhile French President Francois Hollande has called for the European Union to take a common stand over allegations by Mr Snowden that Washington is spying on its European allies. Meanwhile, French President Francois Hollande has called for the European Union to take a common stand over allegations by Mr Snowden that Washington is spying on its European allies.
'Not allowed''Not allowed'
Wikileaks said most of the asylum requests - including to Russia itself - were handed to the Russian consulate at Sheremetyevo airport late on Sunday for delivery to the relevant embassies in Moscow.Wikileaks said most of the asylum requests - including to Russia itself - were handed to the Russian consulate at Sheremetyevo airport late on Sunday for delivery to the relevant embassies in Moscow.
Responses came in on Monday morning.
Austria, Finland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Spain and Switzerland said the request was invalid because it was not made from their own territory.Austria, Finland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Spain and Switzerland said the request was invalid because it was not made from their own territory.
"Delivering an application for asylum from abroad is in principle not allowed," Norwegian Deputy Justice Secretary Paal Loenseth told the country's state TV."Delivering an application for asylum from abroad is in principle not allowed," Norwegian Deputy Justice Secretary Paal Loenseth told the country's state TV.
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said the asylum request "does not meet the requirements for a formal application for asylum".Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said the asylum request "does not meet the requirements for a formal application for asylum".
"Even if it did, I would not give a positive recommendation," he tweeted."Even if it did, I would not give a positive recommendation," he tweeted.
Mr Hollande denied France had received a specific asylum request from Mr Snowden.Mr Hollande denied France had received a specific asylum request from Mr Snowden.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who is on a visit to Moscow, said the same, but added that Mr Snowden had "done something very important for humanity" and "deserved the world's protection". Mr Snowden withdrew his application to Russia after President Putin said he could stay on condition that he stopped damaging Russia's "American partners" with his leaks, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
"Everyone should react and find solidarity with this young man who has denounced and altered the world that they [the US] pretend to control," he told the BBC.
Transit limbo
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Mr Snowden had withdrawn the application to Russia because Moscow had said he should give up "anti-American activity".
"After learning of Russia's position yesterday, voiced by President Putin... he abandoned his intention [of staying] and his request to be able to stay in Russia," said Mr Peskov."After learning of Russia's position yesterday, voiced by President Putin... he abandoned his intention [of staying] and his request to be able to stay in Russia," said Mr Peskov.
President Putin had said that while Moscow "never hands over anybody anywhere", Mr Snowden could only stay on condition that he stopped damaging Russia's "American partners" with his leaks.
Mr Peskov confirmed Mr Snowden had not crossed into Russian territory and was still in the transit area of Sheremetyevo, where he has reportedly stayed since arriving from Hong Kong on 23 June.Mr Peskov confirmed Mr Snowden had not crossed into Russian territory and was still in the transit area of Sheremetyevo, where he has reportedly stayed since arriving from Hong Kong on 23 June.
The former analyst had never been a Russian agent and had never worked with its intelligence services, he added.
Mr Snowden had previously submitted an application to Ecuador, whose embassy in London is sheltering Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, and to Iceland.Mr Snowden had previously submitted an application to Ecuador, whose embassy in London is sheltering Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, and to Iceland.
Ecuador's President Rafael Correa said on Monday his country would process Mr Snowden's asylum request if he managed to enter an Ecuadorean embassy. Ecuador's President Rafael Correa said Quito would not consider Mr Snowden's asylum request unless he managed to enter an Ecuadorean embassy or arrive in Ecuador itself.
However, if he could complete his asylum request on Russian territory, then "the situation can be processed and resolved there," added Mr Correa. He told the Guardian newspaper that Ecuador would not help Mr Snowden travel on from Russia, and said a decision by his London consul to give him a temporary travel document to travel from Hong Kong to Moscow was "a mistake".
Details have also emerged of a letter from Mr Snowden to President Correa, thanking Ecuador for guaranteeing "my rights would be protected upon departing Hong Kong - I could never have risked travel without that". Earlier, details emerged of a letter Mr Snowden addressed to President Correa, thanking Ecuador for guaranteeing "my rights would be protected upon departing Hong Kong - I could never have risked travel without that".
Mr Snowden describes himself as "a stateless person", accusing the US government of stopping him from exercising the "basic right... to seek asylum".Mr Snowden describes himself as "a stateless person", accusing the US government of stopping him from exercising the "basic right... to seek asylum".
The leaking of thousands of classified intelligence documents has led to revelations that the US is systematically seizing vast amounts of phone and web data.The leaking of thousands of classified intelligence documents has led to revelations that the US is systematically seizing vast amounts of phone and web data.